Register control means for continuous and intermittent web feed mechanism



Aprifl M9, 1951 AUER REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS AND INTERMITTENT WEB FEED MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Filed June 22, 1946 INVENTOR FREDERICK AUER TTORNEY R 9 Q3 v 00m Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A m-551$, 1951 F. AUER 2,548,136

REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS AND INTERMITTENT WEB FEED MECHANISM ELL.

( I (K) I Ll. Co

11 g N WI] Q IN 1 4 LIMM" I INVENTOR 33 FRFDERICK AUL-R BY H ATTO R N EY April 10, 1951 F. AUER 2,548,136

REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS AND INTERMITTENT WEB FEED MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 r o W i I INVENTOR I FRfiflER/CK AUER ATTORNEY Aprifi 10, 1951 F. AUER 54,336

REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS AND INTERMITTENT WEB FEED MECHANISM F iled June 22, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FREDERICK 405R ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1951 REGISTER CONTROL MEANS For: CONTINU- OUS AND INTERMITTENT MECHANISM WEB FEED Frederick Auer, Teaneck, N. J., assignor to Champlain Company, Inc., Bloomfield, N. J., a corpora'tion of New York Application June 22, 1946, Serial No. 678,612

31 Claims.

This invention relates to web feed mechanism, and more particularly to mechanism for intermittently feedings, web at high speed.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve such mechanisms. A more particular object is to improve such mechanisms intended to operate in sy'nchronism with machines ope'rating on a continuously moving web. A common example is the combination of printing machinery operating. on a continuously moving web, with cutting, scoring, or punching machinery operating on the same web intermittently.

Heretofore, one method was to provide between the machinesa slack loop having slack corresponding to the length of a single blank being operated upon. Feed rollers at the punch press would attempt to feed the web too fast, and would take up the loo-p. The loop was completely taken up at the time of the punching step, and stop fingers would at this time hold the web against the pull of the feed rollers, The web had to be taut at the time of descent of the stop fingers, because the distance between the printing press and the punch press with a tight web is what determined the registration of the printing and punching operations. As the stop fingers came down the pressure of the feed rollers was relieved, and often diificulty arose because of momentary loss of control of the web during the changeover from the feed rollers to the stop fingers.

Such an arrangement, while satisfactory at slow operating speeds, was not satisfactory at high speeds. Under high speed operation the slack would be taken up sharply, causing flutter and possible shortening of the sheet, with consequent poor registratiomor slight errors in the length of the blank. There was also the annoyance of a rapidly repeated noisy snap as the loop was repeatedly pulled from slack to taut. When dealing with a long blank, the slack loop became quite deep, and taking. out the slack at high speed would generate a wind' resistance which would also affect the accuracy of registration.

In another development the web was moved continuously through the punch press as well as the printing press, the punch press being so designed that the cutting dies moved along with the web. However, such an arrangement was also unsatisfactory for highsp-e'ed operation because or the very large masses associated. with the dies "hich have to be moved back and forth in the direction of th web at high speed;

General objects of the present invention are to overcome the foregoing difficulties, and to provide an improved web feed mechanism for intermittently feeding a web at high speed, and to keep positive control of the web at all times. For this purpose I employ feed wheels which engage the web tightly at all times, and which are rotated intermittently a predetermined amount to measure out or meter blanks of proper length and proper registration.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide feed wheels which are accelerated, then rotated at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then remain stationary or dwell for the cutting operation. In accordance with the present invention, cam and cam roller mechanism is provided for accelerating and decelerating the feed wheels, and a gear segment is provided for uniform speed rotation of the feed wheels. In accordance with another feature and object of the invention, the stop position of the feed wheels is accurately predetermined as, for example, by providing a pilot wheel and a pilot which engages an opening in the pilot wheel during the dwell period. The pilot is cam controlled for high speed operat on.

St ll another object is to facilitate changing the length of feed, as when a new size blank is to be made. There are top and bottom feed wheels, and in accordance with the invention the top or more accessible feed wheels are driven, and may be removed and replaced by feed wheels of different diameter, thus changing the feed. without changing the relative division of the periods for accelerat on, uniform movement, de-

celeration, and dwell of the web.

Any error in feed is cumulative, and even if only a few thousandths of an inch will in the course of a thousand sheets amount to a few inches. This will spoil registration, and if con tinued would soon use up the slack loop between the machines, or increase the slack loop until it drags on the floor. Still another object of the present invention is to ensure registration of the printing and cutting operations, and to maintain the slack loop. For this purpose, either or both of two registration systems may be employecl. In one of these systems a photoelectric cell is used in cooperation with a mark or target on the web, and a slight corrective increment of movement is fed into the feed wheels to make up for any loss of registration. In the other system, a positive infinite variable drive or so-called P, I. V. drive of the Link Belt Company or equivalent Reeves drive or Llewellyn drive is employed between the two machines and is so adjusted, either manually or automatically, as to keep the slack loop between the two machines constant in dimension.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the press and feed elements, and their relation one to the other as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a small view schematically showing one use of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a press with feed mechanism embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the press looking toward the feed mechanism;

Fig. '4 is an enlarged section taken approximately in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned view drawn to enlarged scale and explanatory of a part of the feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the feed mechanism with part of the cam broken away;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 8 shows the mechanism of Fig. 6 in elevation; and

Fig. 9 is a similar partially sectioned elevation but showing the parts in the position of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a first machine A which operates on a continuously moving web B, and a second machine C which operates on the same web with the web moved only intermittently, there being a slack loop D of the web between the two machines. The motor E runs continuously and drives the machines A and C, the machine C including means to move the web intermittently.

In the present case the machine A is a printing press, (it being understood that there may be a bank of printing presses for multi-colored printing, instead of a single press as shown) and the machine 0 is a punch press which may be used for scoring or cutting the web. A typical problem may be to make blanks for milk containers, in which case the web is scored to mark the fold lines, and is cut to mark the outlines of the blank.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the punch press C receives web B as fed to it by intermittently driven top and bottom feed wheels l2 and I4, these being intermittently driven by speed-up mechanism generally designated F. To maintain registration and to guard against cumulative change in the size of the slack loopof web, compensating mechanism may be provided, such as the motor l6 which supplies corrective movement to the feed wheels through differential gearing, later described, or by means of a positive infinite variable drive indicated at I8, this being disposed between the machines C and A, as is perhaps better shown in Fig. 1.

The speed-up mechanism F is best shown in Figs. 6 through 9, and referring thereto the shaft 20 carries a cam roller arm 22 with a cam roller 24. The latter runs in the cam groove 26 of a somewhat heart-shape cam 28, the latter being carried on a cam shaft 30. The shaft 20 turns continuously, but the cam shaft 30 turns only intermittently, and drives the feed wheels. The cam motion provides acceleration, deceleration,

and a dwell period. Figs. 6 and 8 show the parts at the dwell period, the cam roller 24 moving on a radius corresponding substantially to the ourvature of the cam groove at the apex of the heartshaped cam. The sides of the cam groove correspond to the acceleration and deceleration periods. In the present case, the cam is so shaped as to provide a uniform acceleration and a uniform deceleration, but it is not essential they be uniform.

In the illustrated machine I provide a period of uniform velocity feed between the acceleration and deceleration periods. This corresponds to the top of the heart-shaped cam, and Figs. '7 and 9 show the parts during this uniform velocity period. The cam roller 24 en ages and moves with the recess 32 of the cam groove, much in the nature of a gear tooth. However, the cam mechanism is not relied upon for the uniform velocity drive, and is supplemented by gear teeth. In Fig. 6 a gear segment 34 is shown in its upper or inactive position, and mating gear 36 turns freely relative to the gear segment 34. This is essential during the dwell period shown. In Fig. '7 gear segment 34 is in mesh with gear 38, as it should be during the uniform velocity period.

In the particular drive here shown, the rotation of the driven shaft 30 is divided into four periods, corresponding to rotation of the driving shaft 20, as follows: acceleration for 108, uniform velocity for deceleration for 108, and dwell for 58. These values are solely by way of example, and not in limitation of the invention.

To guard against overtravel and to accurately fix the position of the driven shaft 30 during the dwell period, I prefer to employ pilot means. In the present case, this comprises a pilot wheel 40 having a pilot opening 42, best shown in Fig. 7, and a pilot pin 44 for engaging pilot opening 42 during the dwell period, as is best shown in Fig. 6. The pilot pin 44 is carried on a lever 4E fulcrumed at 48 and carrying a cam roller 50 bearing against a cam 52. vA spring part shown at 41', anchored on post 41 in Figs. 8 and 9, urges the roller against the cam. The cam is carried on the driving shaft 20 previously referred to, and controls the operation of the pilot pin. Such cam control of the pilot pin makes it possible to operate the apparatus without loss of speed to accommodate the pilot operation.

As so far described, the intermittently driven shaft 30 might run directly to the feed wheels, and in fact, in looking at Fig. 3 of the drawing, one might assume that the bottom feed wheels l4 are carried directly by the shaft 30. In the particular machine here illustrated, however, shaft 30 extends axially through a hollow shaft or sleeve 54 which turns freely about shaft 30, and which carries the feed wheels 14. The shaft 30, by means of gears 56 and 58, drives the shaft 60 of the top feed wheels I2. The shaft 60 drives the sleeve 54 and bottom wheels [4, by means of gears 62 and 64. It is convenient to drive through the top feed wheels, in order to facilitate changing the length of feed. It will be understood that each rotation of the cam shaft 30 corresponds to the feed of one blank. The gears 56 and 58 may be of such diameter that each rotation of top feed wheels 12 also corresponds to one blank. This is convenient but not essential. The pitch diameter of gear 62 corresponds to the diameter of feed wheels l2, and the pitch diameter of gear 64 corresponds to the diameter of feed wheels l4, hence the feed wheels 12 and 14 turn at equal linear speed, as

theyshouldkalthough thy-inay turn atdifferent rotative speeds.

Now if the length of thehlanki-being operated on is changed; the feed wheels l2: are changed in diameter, and the gear 62 is correspondingly changed to a gear having the new pitch "diameter. The shaft 60 assumes a new height, depending on the changein diameter ofthe feed wheels, and the shaft' bearings are accordingly made slidable in ways to accommodate this change. The gears '56 and 58 are changed to another pair of gears which will provide the proper new center-to-center spacingbetween the shafts-30 and 60. Here again. it is convenient but not essential tokeep the same-gear ratio. If'not, the new ratio must be considered together with the top feed wheel-diameter;to determine the feed length. In some rarecases it, may be possible to change to a new desired feed length by changing the gear ratio of gears 56 and 58 without changing the feed wheels and gear 62:. However, the more usual procedure is to turn the top feed wheels once for each blank, and to make the circumference of the feed wheels equal to thedesired length of blank. In usual practice, shaft 60-, feed wheels I 2-,.and gears 58 and 62 may all be provided'as a unit which may be bodily removed from: or added to the machine. In this way the only other change needed is to change the gear 56.

Figs. 2, 6 and 7 show how shaft 60 is carried in bearings 66 which are slidable in ways and which are urged downwardly both gravitat onally and by means of springs 68. The screws 10 hold the springs in position. The nuts 12 maybe adjusted to limit the downward movement of the bearings when dealing witha thick, cardboard web, but with a thin web, maybe backed off enough to apply full spring pressure, When the height of shaft 60 is changed substantially, different springs may be usedpor the spring pressure may be limited by nuts 12. A more elaborate spring mountin may be provided in which an adjusting screw bears on top offthe spring, and compensates for change of shaft height, so

7 that the same spring pressure may be applied by the same spring for any shaft height.

The feed wheels are preferably arranged for quick release in the event it is desired to stop movement of the web. For this purpose, lift arms 16 (Figs. 6 and 7) are provided, the ends of which underlie the shaft60. The arms 76 are secured to a rod 18 which has an upwardly extending arm 86 whichrests against a cam or fiat 82 formed on a rod 84, the ends of which carry handles '66. In Fig; 6,; the handles 86 are shown in normal or raised position, thus per mitting thef'e'ed wheels l2 t6 hear down tightly agains'tthe feed'wheels l4. 'In- 'Fi g. 7,the handles 86 have been pulled down "to release :position, thereby oscillating therod 16 "and; arms '15 slightly in clockwise direction; and 'thu's'raising the shaft 60 and with iii-theupperffeedfwheels l2. The web B then restsf loosely between the feed wheels and is no longer moved thereby.

Reference has already been made to motor i6 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2, attention is also directed to the'ph'otoel'ectric unit 9!! which scans the web and responds to an appropriate marker target printedon web, corresponding to each blank. Various unitshave already been developed and are known for this purpose, the

electrical impulse resultinglfrom passage of the target being compared with a suitable-standard,

most conveniently a segment ch a commutator on the present case, the shaft 29 '(Fig. 3.) is selected for the purpose; it having rings -62 engaged by brushess l' connected in an electrical circuit, not shown, this'circuit cooperating with the photoelectric scanning device 96 (Fig. 2) in such a way that a lossof registration is revealed and energizes the motor 5. The motor then feeds a slight compensatory feed movement in a direction which helps restore the proper registration.

Forthis purpose differential gearing may be employed, and is generally indicated at 96 in Fig. 3. The motor" It, through a suitable belt or chain it}, drives a worm i 36 meshing with a worm wheel or ring geari 92, carrying planet gears I84 and 36 which in turn mesh with sun gears 598 and lie. Sun gear I38 is carried by the cam shaft 33 previously referred to, and sun gear i ll] is connected to the gear 55. It will be understood that with such an arrangement, the motion of A cam shaft 3'9 is applied directly to the gear 55 when the motor 116, worm ice and planet gears are stationary, and that a slight additional movement is supplied to the gear 56 when the motor I6 is energized.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the differential gearing may be of the bevel type using equal su n "gears, or may be of the spur gear type using meshing pairs of. spur planets to produce a reversal in direction equivalentto the use of bevel planets, in which case also the sun gearsmay be equal, or as in the particular case here illustrated, spur planets may be employed without extra spur planets for reversal of direction, and instead, the arrangement is made unsymmetrical, the sun gear H18 differing somewhat in number of teeth irom'the sun gear HE], and the planet gears I64 and ids differing correspondingly in inverse direction. In the specific case here shown, gear N13 has twenty teeth, gear N15 has sixteen teeth; gear I86 has eighteen teeth, and gear HG has eighteen teeth. (These figures are given by way of example and. not in limitation of the invention.) This causes the gear 56 to turn in five to four ratio with the cam shafttil when motor i6 is stationary. The ratio oi'g'ears 56 and 58 is accordingly made four to live, so that feed wheel shaft 66 turns one to one with the'cam shaft 36 and earn roller shaft 29.

The differential gear and feed wheel arrangement is shown in greater detail in Fig. 5, referring to which it will be seen that the cam shaft '36 extends coaxiallythrough the hollow shaft or sleeve 54carrying the feed wheels M and the gear 64. They are spaced; apart by appropriate bushings, preferably commercial Oilite bushings H2. The sun gear its is keyed to cam shaft 30, as indicatedat lid. The sun gear H3 is formed integrally with a sleeve H6, and it is this sleeve which carries the gear 55, the latter being keyed 'to'th'e sleeve at H 6-. The end'plate i2?! is bolted at 122' to shaft 33, .but both the end plate 2 .3 and shaft 3!] turn freely relative to the gear 55 and sleeve H5. Theiplanet gears i 64 and the are keyed to a common shaft i2 2 which passes through roller bearings carried in ring 26, which in turn carries a worm wheel I62 meshing with worm illEaspreviously described. The ring {32-6 turns on shaft 39 with a suitable bearing bushing [28' therebetween.

"The photoelectric cell control circuits are, of two types, either of which may be employed here. In-one type the feed is intentionally made slightly wrong in one sense or the other, for example,

"slight-1y too small- The compensatingmotor (6 would in such case be a unidirectional motor operating in a direction to increasethe feed. Any loss of registration picked up by the photoelectric cell energizes the motor. In the other type, the photoelectric cell arrangement is more elaborate, and discriminates between a gain or loss of feed. The motor is a reversing motor, and is run in one direction or the other depending on whether the feed must be increased. or decreased. In this case, the feed wheels are dimensioned for the correct feed, as closely as possible, instead of intentionally providing for a slight loss of feed.

In Fig. 5, it will be noted that the gears 58 and 62 are split gears of the anti-backlash type, i. e., there are two sections in face-to-face relation, one of which is keyed to the shaft, and the other of which is displaced by appropriate springs, so that any backlash between gears will be taken up at all times in one direction.

It may be well to clarify the fact that it is not essential to the invention that the cam shaft 30 pass coaxially through the bottom feed Wheels I4. It is merely a structural convenience, because with this construction a relatively light sleeve carrying the feed wheels III is stiffened against bending by the cam shaft running therethrough, and the latter is stiffened by the sleeve. A single set of frame bearings supports the shaft, sleeve, and differential. The arrangement also makes for compactness. Moreover, coaxial shafts are anyway wanted for the differential gearing.

It would also be Well to clarify the fact that the differential gearing need not be connected in cam shaft 30. It may be inserted anywhere between the common drive for the several machines and the present machine. It may be applied to a continuously rotating shaft instead of an intermittently moved shaft, a possible location being in the shaft I30 in Fig. 3, in which case the differential gearing would be located as indicated by the dotted rectangle 96. In pure theory there would be an advantage in locating the differential gearing in a continuously rather than intermittently rotated shaft, for that would avoid movement of the web during the dwell or stationary period. As a practical matter, this is ignorable when, as in the present case, it is contemplated that the feed be so accurate that the compensation is very slight in amount, say, one or a few thousandths of an inch.

It has already been mentioned in connection with Fig. 1 that the drive between the machines A and C may include a positive infinite variable or so-called P. I. V. drive I8. In Fig. 2, the drive shaft I32 is connected to shaft I34 of the P. I. V. drive by means of a silent gear chain I36. The output shaft I38 of the drive I8 is not shown in Fig. 2, but is indicated in Fig. 1. This drive would be essential in the absence of the photoelectric cell compensating means previously described, the reason being that any slight error in feed would, with the passage of thousands of sheets, cumulatively decrease or increase the size of the slack loop D between the machines, thus interfering with practical operation as well as registration. By adjusting the P. I. V. drive either manually or by means of automatic controls responsive to any change in the size of the slack loop, the slack loop may be kept constant in length, and this at the same time will ensure maintenance of registration,

provided registration is made correct to begin with.

The drive I8 may be used" along with the 8 photoelectric -cellregistering means, but not essential because the latter, in correcting any loss of registration as to the successive blanks, automatically corrects for improper length of feed and inherently maintains the slack loop at the proper size. For example, if the slack loop contains, say, seven blanks, it will be maintained seven blanks in length regardless of any slight expansion or shrinkage in the web, or deviation in feed at the punch press.

The punch press shown in Fig. 2 may be of conventional construction, it comprising a bolster or platen I40 reciprocated by four corner rods I42 connected to links I44 operated by eccentrics driven by bull gears I46. These mesh with gears I48 carried by a drive shaft I50 also carrying suitable pulleys I52 receiving belts I54 connected to the main drive motor E.

To drive the feed mechanism and also th printing press, power is taken off from shaft I50 by means of gear I56 which drives bevel gears I58 and I60, the latter turning shaft I62 and bevel gears I64 and I66. Gear I66 turns a shaft I68 located at the side of the machine, as is best shown in Fig. 3. It carries a bevel gear I10 meshing with a bevel gear I12 on the end of shaft I30 previously referred to. At its opposite end, shaft I30 carries a spur gear II'4 meshing with the spur gear 36 on the cam roller shaft 20 pre-'- viously referred to. This completes the drive from the motor to the speed-up mechanism of the feed wheels.

Reverting to Fig. 2, the discharge side of the press is provided with a pull unit generally designated I80. This includes rollers which turn cori tinuously but which are adjusted to only lightly touch the web, and to slip readily when the web is stopped by stoppage of the true feed wheels I2 and I l which meter out blanks of proper length. The pull unit is provided because the feed wheels I2 and I4 push the web, and any slight resistance in the press might cause the web to buckle or kink. This is prevented by the pull unit which keeps the Web smooth and taut over the base of the die. (The die may be of the chase type, and is omitted in the drawing.) The .drive for the pull unit I will be evident from inspection of Fig. 2, the shaft I62 driving mitre gears I82 and I84, shaft I86, bevel gears I08 and I90, and the bottom feed rollers. The top feed rollers are driven by the bottom rollers through spur gears, as shown.

The unit 200 is a so-called tab-breaker which separates the blanks from one another. The particular machine here shown is being used to make blanks for milk containers, and these are not fully severed in the punch press. Instead, the cutting knives have notches at intervals which provide tiny connecting tabs between the blanks. The complete tab breaker includes -fingers which clamp the web and hold it tight,

and friction wheels having sufiicient friction to break the tabs and so separate the blanks. The drive of the tab breaker unit is evident from the drawing, it being driven by the pull unit through an idler gear 202.

The mechanism shown at 204 guides margina waste or trim from the side edges of the web down into a chute 206. This chute also receives small pieces of scrap which are pushed out of the web by fingers such as are indicated at 208 and which are connected to and moved by the bolster or platen I40 of the press. The holding with the friction wheels of the. tab breaker, may also be connected to the press as shown at 208.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved web feed mechanism, as well as the advantages thereof, 'will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The feed wheels grip the web tightly at all times and main-. tain positive control of the web. The web is accelerated, moved at high speed, decelerated, and then dwells in a manner which utilizes the available time, most efiiciently. A combination of cam drive and gear segment provides the desired motion, and a pilot arrangement insures accurate stop position of the web during the. dwell period. The feed rolls feed the webaccura-tely, and may be thought of as metering rolls. The drive .is applied to the topfeed Wheels, and the entire top feed wheel shaftis readily removable and replaceable to accommodate changes'in size of blank. This shaft also is arrangedcwith a quick-release mechanism to stop feed ofthe web. A diiferential mechanism under photoelectric control maybe employed to automatically insure registration of the different operations onthe same web, A variable speeddrive betweenmachines may also be provided, .althoughnotessential when the .photoelectriccontrol is used.

The pilot mechanism (wheel 40 and .pin .44) may be located elsewhere than shown, as for example, after the differential gearing. :The nearer it is tothe feed rolls, the less concern there is about backlash in the gearing.

A machine using intermittent feed might pre cede instead of follow a machine using continuous feed. The cam and roller speed-up mechanism may employ a cam driving a roller instead of vice-versa.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms,

changes may be made in the structures disclosed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a machine for'operating on an intermittently moving continuous power source and said feed wheels to drive said feedwheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which is driven by the power source and rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having a single short arm carrying a cam roller engaging a single large cam on the other shaft, said cam having a continuous cam groove for positive control and drive of the roller, and being approximately heart-shaped so that the .driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, the dwell period being only a fraction of the feed period.

2. Apparatus comprising a machine for operating on an intermittently moving continuous web, feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a continuous power source for driving said feed wheels, and means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of whichis driven by the power source and rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of saidshafts having a single short arm carrying asinglejlargeoam roller engaging aacam. on the other :shaftsaid cam having-a c ntinuousoarn g ve for. p st tivecontroland drive of the roller,.and.being approximately heart-shaped so that the driven shaft vis accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts having a gear segment and the other having gear teeth meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed.

i 3.. Apparatus comprisingamachine for opereating on an intermittently moving continuous web, feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a continuouspowersource for driving said feed wheels,-.andimeans opera-tively connecting said power-source.andsaidfeed wheels to drive said feed. wheels intermittently, said means including twc-shaftsaone of which isdriven by the power source and rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having 1 131? :shor rm carr ng a am roller n a i a single lars noamn th other shaft. ai oarnhavinaua" con inuous cam groove 'for po tive-eontrol-a ddrive of the roller, and being app ox mate y hearos aped' s t at the driven shaft isac elc ated, dc l r t d, and then dwells during eaoh-r tat n therlattershaft having a pil tnwhc l. and a pilotma in with a pilot oneningin said .wheel during thedwell period.

Apparatus comprising .amachine fOIMODBhatin on an intermittently moving continuous web; feed wheels;continuouslyaengaging said web, a continuouspower sourceqfordrlving said feed wheelsmandwmeans .operatively connecting :said powerzsource "and. saidafeed :wheels to drive said feedwheels:intermittently, said'means including tWOIEShflftS one of which is driven by the power sourceixandrotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said-shafts having a single, short arm carrying a cam roller driving a single large .cam on thedriven shaft which i in turn drives the feed rollers, said cam having a continuous cam :groove for positive control and .drive of the roller, and being approximately heart-shaped so that the. cam shaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed then decelerated; and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts :having a gear I segment and the'cother having :gearateeth meshing with said gear segment during the periodof uniform'speed, said cam shafthaving a-pilot wheeL anda pilot matingwith :a: pilot opening in-said wheel during the dwell period.

5. Apparatus'comprising-a machine for-operating on an intermittently moving web,*top and :bottorn r-ieed'wheels continuously engaging said web;.a topshaft carrying said top feed wheels, a power "SQllIGGl'fOI :drivingzsaidsfeed wheels, and means ;between said power asourceandsaid feed wheelsrto drivesaidufeed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive :from said power source and the aforesaid means-bein applied to the top shaft,- said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine :with hear n s adj sta l receive top feed wheels-of different diameter.

6. App a mpris :a mach ne for perating on an intermittently -rnoving'welo, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web,a= power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said ieed wheels to drive said feed'wheelseintermityi thebottom .ee w e s b i mounted on a shaft having a g a he' i oh i e er oiwhioh corresp dstothe dia eter f he bottoma eed wheels, the top f eedwheels being mounted on a .shaithavinga gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter. 7. Apparatus comprising a machine for operating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a top shaft carrying said top feed wheels, at power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, and a quick release lever for lifting the top shaft and feed wheels in order to release the pressure on the web a and thereby interrupt the feed of the web.

8. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a top shaft carrying said top feed wheels, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter depending on the length of the blank being operated on.

9. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, Said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a com-'- mon power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feedwheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft 'havinga gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter depending on the length of .the'blank being operated on.

10. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a

machine operating on an'intermittentl moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a top shaft carrying said top feed wheels, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being applied to the top feed wheel shaft, said top shaft being removably *mounted in the machine with bear-ings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diatrieter, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines.

11. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermit.ently, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from said power sow-cc and the aforesaid means being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, said means between said power source and said feed Wheels including two shafts one of which rota.es uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and dwells during each rotation, said shaft having a pilot wheel, and a pilot movable into and out of the pilot opening in said pilot wheel during the dwell period, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines. V

12. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, additional means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed of the feed wheels which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from said power source and the aforesaid means being appliedto the top shaft, said top shaft beih'gremovably mounted in the machine withbearin'g's adjustable to'receive top feed wheels of different diameter, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one 'of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, then 'driv'e'nat uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one 'of said shafts having 'a gear segment and the other having gear teeth for meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, the'intermitte'ntly rotating shaft having a pilot wheel and a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said pilot wheel duringthe dwell period. I

13. Apparatus for operating on a web, said apparatus including top and bottom feed wheels, a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for thebottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, a coaxial shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said top shaft, and means to drive the coaxial shaft in order to drive the feed wheels, said top shaft and top feed wheels being removable and changeable in orderto, change-the feed, said bo tom feed wheels and sleeveremaining in position on the coaxial shaft.

14 Apparatus for operating on a web, said-apparatus including top and bottom-feed wheels, a top shaftfor the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, a coaxial shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said topshaft, and means to intermittently drive the coaxial shaft in order to intermittently drivethe feed wheels,

said top shaft and top feed wheels being remo able and changeable in order to change the feed,

said bottom feed wheels and sleeve remaining in position on the coaxial shaft.

15. Apparatus for operating on a welmsaid apparatus including top and bottom feed wheels, a top shaft for the top feed Whe ls, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, a coaxial shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said top shaft, said gearing including differential gearing, registration compensating means including an intermittently operable motor connected to a part of said diiferential'gearing for occasionally feeding in an extra compensation movement, and means to drive the coaxials haft in order to drive the feed wheels, said'top shaft and top feed-wheels" being removable and changeable in order to change the'feed, said bottom feed wheisfanq sleeve remaining in position on thecoaXial shaft.

16. Apparatus for operating on a web, said apparatus including top and bottom feedlwheels,

a "top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom'feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear on said topshaft meshing with saidsleeve gear, a power source, and means connecting the source to the top shaft, said means including difierential'gearing'with sun gears and planet gears and a ring gear carrysaid planet gears, registration compensating means including anintermittently operable'mo tor connected to "said ring gea'nand a'coaxial" shaft passing through and rotatable in said sleeve, said top shaft and top feed wheels-being removable and changeable in order to change'the feed, said bottom feed wheels and sleeve remaining in position on the coaxial shaft.

17. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines,- top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging saidweb, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, 2, gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, and means connecting said power source to said feed wheels, said means including differential gearing, registration compensating means including a motor connected to'a partof said differential gearing for occasionally feeding-man extra'compensation movement, a coaxial shaft passing through the sleeve and geared to the top'shaft, and means driven by said power source to-i-ntermittently drive the coaxial shaft in order to intermittently drive the feed wheels.

'18. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheelsat thesecond named machine continuously engaging said web, a common power source for driving said-machines and said feed wheels, a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft orsleeve for the *bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, agea-ron said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, a coaxial shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said top shaft, said gearing includingdiiferential gearing with sun gears and planet gears'and a ring gear carrying said planet gears, registration compensating means including anintermittently operable motor connected to said ring gear, and means driven by said power source-tointermih ten'tly drive the coaxial shaft inorder to inter- 'mittently drive the feed wheels, said top shaft said feed wheels, means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means between saidpower source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam rollerenga'ging'a cam'on the other shaft,'said cam being so shapedthat the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and dwells during each rotation, whereby its rotation is intermittent,a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for'the' bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear onsaid top shaft meshing with'said sleeve gear, the aforesaid intermittently rotated shaft passing through said sleeve and gearedto said top shaft, said gearing including registrationcompensating means including differential gearing and an intermittently operable motor connected to a part of said differential gearing for occasionally feeding in an extra compensation movement.

20. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, whereby its rotation is intermittent one of said shafts having a gear segment and the other having gear teeth meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom feed wheels, a gear on said sleeve, a gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, the aforesaid intermittently rotated shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said top shaft, said gearing including registration compensating means including differential gearing and an intermittently operable motor connected to a part of said differential gearing for occasionally feeding in an extra compensation movement.

21. Apparatus comprising a machine operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on an intermittently moving web, said web having a slack loop between said machines, top and bottom feed wheels at the second named machine continuously engaging said web, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller driving a cam on the driven shaft, said cam being so shaped that the cam shaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts having a gear segment and the other having gear teeth meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, said cam shaft having a pilot wheel, a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said pilot wheel during the dwell pe- ,riod, a top shaft for the top feed wheels, a hollow shaft or sleeve for the bottom feed wheels, a 'gear on said sleeve, a gear on said top shaft meshing with said sleeve gear, the aforesaid cam shaft passing through said sleeve and geared to said top shaft, said gearing including registration compensating means including diiferential gearing and an intermittently operable motor connected to a part of said differential gearing for occasionally feeding in an extra compensation movement, said top shaft and top feed wheels being removable and changeable in order to change the feed, said bottom feed wheels and sleeve remaining in position on the cam shaft.

22. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating-on a continuously moving web, a

machine operating on the same web intermit' tently moved, said web having a slack loop between said machines, feed wheels continuously engaging said web at the second named machine, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, the dwell period being only a fraction of the feed period, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines.

23. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on the same web intermittently moved, said web having a slack loop between said machines, feed wheels continuously engaging said web at the second named machine, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a, cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is uniformly accelerated, uniformly decelerated and then dwells during each rotation, the dwell period being only a fraction of the feed period, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines.

24. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on the same web intermittently moved, said web having a slack loop between said machines, feed wheels continuously engaging said web at the second named machine, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the drivenshaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts having a gear segmentand the other having gearv teeth meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, and means to change thefeed of the web in one ,of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines. I

25. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving webya machine operating on the same web intermit- 17 tently moved, said web having a slack loop be tween said machines, feed wheels continuously engaging said web at the second named machine, a-common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one

of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, the latter shaft having a pilot wheel, and a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said wheel during the dwell period, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of. said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines.

26. Apparatus comprising a machine feeding and operating on a continuously moving web, a machine operating on the same web intermittently moved, said web having a slack loop between said machines, feed wheels continuously engaging said web at the second named machine, a common power source for driving said machines and said feed wheels, means operatively connecting said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, said means including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts having a gear segment and the other having gear teeth meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, the driven shaft having a pilot wheel, and a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said wheel during the dwell period, and means to change the feed of the web in one of said machines relative to the feed of the web in the other of said machines in order to compensate for any error in the feed which might otherwise cause a gradual cumulative change in the slack loop between the machines.

27. Apparatus comprising a machine for oper ating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a top feed wheel shaft, a power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power solurce and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive from the power source being applied to the top feed wheel shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, depending on the length of the blank being operated on.

28. Apparatus comprising a machine for operating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from'the power source being applied to the top shaft,..said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, depending on the length of the blank being operated on.

29. Apparatus comprising a machine for oper ating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said Web, a top feed wheel shaft, a' power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels todrive' said feed wheels intermittently, the intermittent drive from the power source being applied to the top feed wheel shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly nd drives the other non-uni formly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation.

30. Apparatus comprising a machine for operating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and'said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shafthaving a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from the power source being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, said means between said power source and said feed wheels includ ing two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having n arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam being so shaped that the driven shaft is accelerated, decelerated, and'then dwells during each rotation, said driven shaft having a pilot wheel, and a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said pilot wheel during the dwell period.

31. Apparatus comprising a machine for operating on an intermittently moving web, top and bottom feed wheels continuously engaging said web, a power source for driving said feed wheels, and means between said power source and said feed wheels to drive said feed wheels intermittently, the bottom feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a, gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottom feed wheels, the top feed wheels being mounted on a shaft having a gear the pitch diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the top feed wheels, the intermittent drive from the power source being applied to the top shaft, said top shaft being removably mounted in the machine with bearings adjustable to receive top feed wheels of different diameter, said means between said power source and said feed wheels including two shafts one of which rotates uniformly and drives the other non-uniformly, one of said shafts having an arm carrying a cam roller engaging a cam on the other shaft, said cam 19 being so shaped that, the driven shaft is accelerated, then driven at uniform speed, then decelerated, and then dwells during each rotation, one of said shafts having a gear segment and the other having gear teeth for meshing with said gear segment during the period of uniform speed, the intermittently rotating shaft having a pilot wheel, and a pilot mating with a pilot opening in said pilot wheel during the dwell period.

FREDERICK AUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 20 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Turck Sept. 11, 1906 Pierce Mar. 12, 1907 Meisel May 17, 1910 Inman June 18, 1912 Provandie et a1 Jan. 12, 1915 Chase May 17, 1932 Sibley Aug. 2, 1932 Scholin Oct. 2, 1934 Pechy July 14, 1936 Lockett et al Aug. 18, 1936 Harrold et al. Mar. 12, 1940 

